Adjustable knockdown shelving

ABSTRACT

Adjustable knockdown shelving including four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90* and a rectangular shelf which has a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts staked in each of the corners. A plurality of holes are located at the vertex of each of the posts and are in a spaced relation to one another along the length thereof. A bolt extends through a washer having a V-shaped groove which is matingly positioned to the corner of the post and is threaded into the solid nut to join the shelf to the post.

United States Patent 1191 Jaffee et al.

[ Jan. 7, 1975 1 ADJUSTABLE KNOCKDOWN SHELVING [75] inventors: Robert D. Jaffee, Skokie; Ralph B.

Olson, Lombard, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: Amco Corporation, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 421,061

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 228,840, Feb. 24, 1972,

abandoned. I v

[52] U.S. Cl ..108/111,108/156, 211/148, 211/153, 108/144 [51] Int. Cl A47b 9/00 [58] Field of Search 108/l11,l14,156,158,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,460,928 7/1923 Tilden 211/182 1,667,913 5/1928 Weston 108/111 X 1,854,777 4/1932 Bales 108/111 2,099,657 11/1937 Mills 248/188 2,407,721 9/1946 Nauert 211/153 2,939,589 6/1960 Handler 108/144 3,065,860 11/1962 Swanson 211/153 3,102,616 9/1963 Simpkins..... 248/188 X 3,341,160 9/1967 Jones 108/156 3,523,508 8/1970 Maslow 108/144 3,544,185 12/1970 Lundberg 108/156 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmMueller, Aichele & Ptak [57] ABSTRACT Adjustable knockdown shelving including four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90 and a rectangular shelf which has a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts staked in each of the corners. A plurality of holes are located at the vertex of each of the posts and are in a spaced relation to one another along the length thereof. A bolt extends through a washer having a V-shaped groove which is matingly positioned to the corner of the post and is threaded into the solid nut to join the shelf to the post.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,530

FIGZ l6 III I IWI" who 1 ADJUSTABLE KNOCKDOWN SHELVING This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 228,840, filed Feb. 24, 1972 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A large portion of the knockdown, adjustable metal shelving which is on the market today utilizes tubing for the shelf supports. Some such shelving has been proposed wherein geometric shapes other than round tubing for the supports have been used. Of these the most popular is the support leg which has a trapezoidal cross-section or variation thereof. In order to form these legs several machining steps are required. Furthermore, rather complicated shelving design and corner configurations must be utilized in order to mate the shelving to the support post. In addition, support posts of a trapezoidal cross-section do not have the strength, for instance, as compared to angle iron wherein the corner angle is on the order of 90. The latter design, however, has not been pursued with much success because of the difficulty of finding a way of satisfactorily connecting the shelf to the corner angle post in a manner which would permit the shelves to support heavy loads. One way which has been proposed for connecting the rectangular shelving to an angle corner post is to provide first and second holes on either side of the corner of the post which are aligned with like holes on either side of the corner of the shelf and two bolts are inserted through the holes to connect the shelf to the support post. Unfortunately, almost unworkable tolerances are required in order to properly fit the shelf to the post with the holes in each of the pieces in alignment. This method also places great shear force on the bolts themselves resulting in an overall weak structure.

Also, in most shelving using tubular support posts the shelves cannot be removed for cleaning or relocating but can only be moved up or down within limits established by the shelves immediately above and below the shelf to be moved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an improved corner post and shelf combination which is easily assembled, adjusted to the desired height and which will support great loads.

It is a further object of this invention to provide knock-down adjustable shelving which can be manufactured relatively inexpensively with workable tolerances for matching the shelving to the corner support DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knockdown adjustable shelving in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of that part of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially in cross-section illustrating a nut positioned in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 6 is an end view in elevation of the shelving in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown knockdown, ad-

25 justable shelving 10 which includes four metal angle post so that the shelving can be quickly and easily assembled.

It is still another object of this invention to provide adjustable shelving wherein the individual shelves can be removed for cleaning and relocation without disturbing the remaining shelves.

In one embodiment of this invention adjustable knockdown shelving includes a plurality of metal angle corner posts. Each of the posts has a plurality of holes therethrough at the corner or vertex of the angle which are spaced apart along the length of the post. A shelf is provided which has a plurality of corners, one for each post, each of the corners being formed in an angle substantially equal to the angle of the corner post. A triangular shaped nut which has an angle at the vertex thereof equal to the angle of the shelf corner is located in each corner of the shelf. The shelf is attached to each corner support posts ll, l2, l3 and 14. Removably positioned between the corner posts are metal wire shelves l6 and 18. Each of the support posts is formed from metal stock at a corner angle of substantially 90. In one example 0.1345 inch steel was used. Because of the thickness of the stock, when the same is formed into the right angle posts, the corner or vertex of the angle takes the shape of a radius rather than a knife blade edge. Located along this vertex or radius 20 of each post are a plurality of spaced apart holes such as 21 and 22 in post 11. Thus the corner of each post provides a built-in reference for the location of the holes. The posts 12, 13 and 14 are constructed in the same manner as post 11.

The shelves used in conjunction with the angle corner post are similar in construction and it will be understood therefore that while this description of the construction will be directed to shelf 16, shelf 18 is constructed in a like manner. Essentially the shelf is rectangular in configuration and includes a frame formed from stock (in one example 0.105 inch steel was used) into longitudinal side members 24 and 26 and transverse end members 28 and 30. Each of the members 24, 26, 28 and 30 takes the form of a channel (FIG. 3) having an upper lip portion 32, an intermediate body portion 33 and a lower lip portion 34. Connected. in each of the comers of the shelf 16 is a solid, triangular shaped metal nut (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 5, the nut in this instance is stakedinto the comer at 42 by deforming the lower lip 34 of the channel into the nut. Being staked to the channel members in this manner firmly sets the top of the nut into contact with the upper lip 32 of both the longitudinal channel member 26 and the transverse channel member 28. It is also clear from FIG. 2 that the solid nut is staked in two places, at 42 to the lower lip 34 of channel member 26 and at 44 to the lower lip 34 of channel member 28.

By referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 it can be seen that the wire portion of the shelf 16 includes transverse wire members which are connected by spot welding, for instance, to the under portion of the upper lip portion 32 of the longitudinal side members 26 and 24, respectively of the shelf 16. The transverse wire members 50 extend in a spaced relation to one another and substantially parallel to the transverse end channel members 28 and 30 ofthe shelf frame. A second set of longitudinal wire members 52 are connected to the upper lip portions 32 of the transverse end members 28 and 30 of the shelf 16 and are in contact with the transverse wire members 50. The longitudinal wire members 52 extend in a spaced relation to one another and are substantially parallel to the longitudinal side members 24 and 26. Three additional center support wires 54 are connected by spot welding, for instance, to the longitudinal wire members 52 and extend transverse thereto to a position adjacent the upper lip portions 32 of the side channel members 24 and 26 of the frame of the shelf 16 but are not connected to the same. These three center wire support members help to distribute the load three wires 54 will change in number relative to the length of the shelf.

Assembly, disassembly and repositioning of the height of the shelves can be quickly and efficiently accomplished because of the use of common right angles to index the pieces to one another. That is, the vertex 60 (FIG. 4) of the triangular nut 40 is easily positioned into the substantially, right angle formed at the corner of the shelf frame, for instance, by channel members 26 and 28. A hole is located by and drilled through the vertex of each of the corners of the shelf frame such as shown at 62. And the hole 63 through the solid nut (FIG. is aligned with this hole in the corner of the shelf when it is staked into the channel pieces. Subsequently, the shelf itself is quickly indexed to the angle corner posts by fitting the right angle corners of the shelf into each of the right angles of the posts. The shelf is then positioned at the desired height by locating it to one of the holes, for instance, 21 or 22 on post 11, and a bolt, for example 64 is then inserted through the holes in the post and the shelf corner and threaded into the solid nut 40 to rigidly secure the support post to the shelf member. Actually, before the bolt is threaded into the nut, a washer 66 (FIG. 4), which has a groove therein 68 shaped to the angle or radius of the angle corner post is placed between the head of the bolt 64 and is mated to the contour of the corner post with the bolt being threaded to the nut. This washer 66 evenly distributes the force of the load on the shelf around the corner of the support post and reduces the possibility that such force could shear the bolt 64. Likewise the solid nut 40 positioned in each of the corners of the shelf provides a support for that point where the transverse end channel member and the longitudinal side channel member join to form the shelf cornerso that shelf loading is distributed equally about the frame and around the corner thereby reducing the chance of failure at the corners of the shelf.

Although for illustrative purposes the shelving is shown in FIG. 1 comprising four legs connected to each of four corners of a single shelf, it should be understood that it is within the scope of this invention that two shelves can be joined together by clips and only six legs used to support both shelves.

It can be seen therefore that due to the use of a similar angle for indexing the parts to one another this unique adjustable, knockdown shelving can be quickly assembled and easily manufactured without the difficult machining of eccentrically shaped parts and encountering problems with worrisome tolerances. In addition because each of the shelves are individually secured to the support posts by the bolts, they can each be removed for cleaning or adjustment without disturbing the position of the remaining shelves.

We claim:

1. Knockdown adjustable shelving including in combination, four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90, a rectangular shelf having a frame formed from longitudinal side and transverse end members, said longitudinal side and transverse end members being formed from metal channel stock having an upper lip portion, an intermediate body portion and a lower lip portion, respective ones of said longitudinal side and transverse end members having their upper lip portion and lower lip portion joined in a miter type joint with said intermediate body portions meeting to form substantially right angles at each corner of said shelf, each said corner post having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough located at the vertex of the angle and along the length thereof, a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts, means for connecting said nuts in mating engagement in each of the corners of said rectangular shelf in line with a hole through the corner at the vertex of the angle and in engagement with both said upper and lower lip portions and said intermediate body portions of both said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members, a plurality of bolts, and a plurality of washers each washer having a groove shaped to mate with the vertex of the angle of each said corner post, said rectangular shelf being removably mounted between said four metal angle corner posts by one each of said washers being placed with said groove therein in mating engagement with said corner of a respective post and in alignment with a preselected hole therethrough to determine the height of said shelf from a reference plane, and by said bolt passing through said washer and the hole in the corner of said shelf and being threaded in said nut.

2. in the knockdown shelving of claim 1 the combination further including longitudinal wire members extending in a spaced relation to one another and substantially parallel to said side members, said longitudinal wire members being connected at each end thereof to a respective transverse end member of said shelf frame, transverse wire members extending in a spaced relation to one another and substantially parallel to said end members, said transverse wire members being connected at each end thereof to a respective longitudinal side member of said shelf frame and contacting said longitudinal wire members on one side thereof, and a plurality of center wire support members connected to said longitudinal wire members substantially in the center portion of said shelf on the side thereof opposite said one side being contacted by said transverse wire members, said wire support members effectively moving the center of deflection of said shelf outwardly from the center toward said side members.

3. The knockdown shelving of claim 2 wherein said transverse and longitudinal wire members are connected to said upper lip portions of said longitudinal channel members and said transverse channel members respectively, said center wire supportmembers extending substantially to but not contacting said longitudinal channel members.

4. Knockdown adjustable shelving including in combination, four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90", a rectangular shelf having a frame formed from longitudinal side and transverse end members, said longitudinal side and transverse end members being formed from metal channel stock having an upper lip portion, an intermediate body portion and a lower lip portion, each said corner post having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough located at the vertex of the angle and along the length thereof, a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts, each of said nuts being staked to said bottom lip portions of said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members respectively in mating engagement in each of the corners of said rectangular shelf in line with a hole through the corner at the vertex of the angle and in engagement with both said upper and lower lip portions and said intermediate body portions of both said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members, a plurality of bolts, and a plurality of washers, each washer having a groove shaped to mate with the vertex of the angle of each said corner post, said rectangular shelf being removably mounted between said four metal angle corner posts by one each of said washers being placed with said groove therein in mating engagement with said corner of a respective post and in alignment with a preselected hole therethrough to determine the height of said shelf from a reference plane, and by said bolt passing through said washer and the hole in the corner of said shelf and being threaded in 

1. Knockdown adjustable shelving including in combination, four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90*, a rectangular shelf having a frame formed from longitudinal side and transverse end members, said longitudinal side and transverse end members being formed from metal channel stock having an upper lip portion, an intermediate body portion and a lower lip portion, respective ones of said longitudinal side and transverse end members having their upper lip portion and lower lip portion joined in a miter type joint with said intermediate body portions meeting to form substantially right angles at each corner of said shelf, each said corner post having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough located at the vertex of the angle and along the length thereof, a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts, means for connecting said nuts in mating engagement in each of the corners of said rectangular shelf in line with a hole through the corner at the vertex of the angle and in engagement with both said upper and lower lip portions and said intermediate body portions of both said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members, a plurality of bolts, and a plurality of washers each washer having a groove shaped to mate with the vertex of the angle of each said corner post, said rectangular shelf being removably mounted between said four metal angle corner posts by one each of said washers being placed with said groove therein in mating engagement with said corner of a respective post and in alignment with a preselected hole therethrough to determine the height of said shelf from a reference plane, and by said bolt passing through said washer and the hole in the corner of said shelf and being threaded in said nut.
 2. In the knockdown shelving of claim 1 the combination further including longitudinal wire members extending in a spaced relation to one another and substantially parallel to said side members, said longitudinal wire members being connected at each end thereof to a respective transverse end member of said shelf frame, transverse wire members extending in a spaced relation to one another and substantially parallel to said end members, said transverse wire members being connected at each end thereof to a respective longitudinal side member of said shelf frame and contacting said longitudinal wire members on one side thereof, and a plurality of center wire support members connected to said longitudinal wire members substantially in the center portion of said shelf on the side thereof opposite said one side being contacted by said transverse wire members, said wire support members effectively moving the center of deflection of said shelf outwardly from the center toward said side members.
 3. The knockdown shelving of claim 2 wherein said transverse and longitudinal wire members are connected to said upper lip portions of said longitudinal channel members and said transverse channel members respectively, said center wire support members extending substantially to but not contacting said longitudinal channel members.
 4. Knockdown adjustable shelving including in combination, four metal angle corner posts formed at an angle of substantially 90*, a rectangular shelf having a frame formed from longitudinal side and transverse end members, said longitudinal side and transverse end members being formed from metal channel stock having an upper lip portion, an intermediate body portion and a lower lip portion, each said corner post having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough located at the vertex of the angle and along the length thereof, a plurality of solid triangular shaped metal nuts, each of said nuts being staked to said bottom lip portions of said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members respectively in mating engagement in each of the corners of said rectangular shelf in line with a hole through the corner at the vertex of the angle and in engagement with both said upper and lower lip portIons and said intermediate body portions of both said longitudinal side and transverse end channel members, a plurality of bolts, and a plurality of washers, each washer having a groove shaped to mate with the vertex of the angle of each said corner post, said rectangular shelf being removably mounted between said four metal angle corner posts by one each of said washers being placed with said groove therein in mating engagement with said corner of a respective post and in alignment with a preselected hole therethrough to determine the height of said shelf from a reference plane, and by said bolt passing through said washer and the hole in the corner of said shelf and being threaded in said nut. 